 Poster: A snowHead
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What is the best bank to use if using a card abroad?
I used to use Nationwide as it was free (aside form the bank exchange rate) but even they have stopped that now.
I just got back after having used a Santander card abroad and would advise anyone not to use them. They charge a bank exchange rate + an international usage percentage of about 2% + an overseas transaction charge of £1.25 everytime you use it even for card/pin payments.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Metro Bank, especially if you live in London.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Are you talking a credit card or a card for withdrawing cash?
I use an Halifax Clarity Credit Card and a FairFX pre-loaded Mastercard for cash.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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debit card ut they charge anyway.
It's more the payment at restaurants, hotels, petrol stations that is also charged for that I have a problem with...adds at least 3-5% to every transaction.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Isn't the Nationwide credit card still free? Just pay it off at the end of the month.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Monium, No.
GordonFreeman, as Layne points out, the best site for that sort of question is at moneysavingexpert - comprehensive answer here. Any reason why you posted this topic in The Piste?
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When did NW slip that in? Time to look at other options, I put about £1K on mine over Easter in France.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Colin B, about a year ago, I think.
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| Monium wrote: |
| Isn't the Nationwide credit card still free? Just pay it off at the end of the month. |
Yes the Nationwide credit card is still "free" (except for cash). The Nationwide debit card however does charge a percentage plus a fixed sum for non-UK cash withdrawals. Taking the exchange rate used and the percentage charged, my Nationwide credit card worked out 3% cheaper than my Halifax credit card.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nationwide credit card for credit transactions, and pre-loaded FairFX card for cash.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Nationwide Credit card all the way! 
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you can use a Santander Zero current account and debit card and a Santander Zero credit card.
Worked fine in Canada recently and no charges.
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You know it makes sense.
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| cockofthenorth wrote: |
| Nationwide Credit card all the way! |
+1
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| jtr wrote: |
| Monium wrote: |
| Isn't the Nationwide credit card still free? Just pay it off at the end of the month. |
Yes the Nationwide credit card is still "free" (except for cash)....... |
Not so according to Nationwide there is a 2% commission for non-sterling transactions. To be fair, that is cheaper than many - but Halifax Clarity, the PO, Saga, Sainsbury's Gold and Santander Zero all do better, with no commission charge at all.
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Poster: A snowHead
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achilles, the whole page is about their debit card.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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+1 for the Santander Zero account. BUT Santander customer service is non existent and they are exceptionally inefficient at everything so whilst the marketing and the deals are good the headache of sorting it all out might cancel out the savings so might not be the best choice if you are a busy person!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Used to use NH credit & debit until they started charging.
In Arraba in Feb is used the Halifax Clarity for both purchases and cash. Even forgetting to pay the cash off "early" and it being done by my normal direct debit it only seemed to cost a couple of quid over the month plus the rate was ok.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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jtr, that Nationwide deal is designed to stop people using the card purely for when abroad. Which for me is a non starter as I use a Tesco Clubcard CC to get points to pay for my Eurotunnel! And I am sure people have cashback cards and other deals which they like to take advantage of for their UK spend. Understandable from Nationwide's pov obviously.
Anyway none of which would seem to help the OP who wants to use a Debit Card.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jtr, Hmm. That appears to be related to a balance transfer deal with a time limit - but I do find it confusing, and it does appear to conflict with the other Nationwide link I gave you. I do have a Nationwide current account - but it is not in regular use. They've long struck me as almost very good - not a bad bank but could do better - and the slap-dash approach to their information, which you have kindly highlighted, reinforces that view. Better to go for a card where the terms are clear, I think.
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achilles,
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it does appear to conflict with the other Nationwide link I gave you.
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I really don't think it does, your link was about their debit card and jtr's was about their credit card.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I use my Nationwide Credit card for all my French stuff and pay no commission not even through the exchange rate. I guess their new cards as above won't have that benefit.
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Layne, achilles, Yoda, There are 2 types of Nationwide Credit Card.
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/creditcard/compare-credit-cards.htm
The "Select" card features
| Quote: |
| 0.5% cashback on all sterling card purchases |
and
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| Unlimited commission-free purchases abroad |
but is available only to customers who credit their current account by +£750 per month (IIRC)
For the riff-raff there is the run of the mill credit card which has no cashback but does have
| Quote: |
We will reward you every time you use your card for
purchases in pounds sterling with commission-free
purchases abroad |
I quite like the Nationwide but like all Financial Services companies you have to keep an eye on them.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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jtr, I only got the Nationwide pleb card (a few years ago) to use abroad, I don't bank with them. But thanks for the info.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| paul.kin wrote: |
| you can use a Santander Zero current account and debit card and a Santander Zero credit card. |
That ^^^
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You know it makes sense.
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Pedantica, gosh - glad you can see that easily - I can't. Moneysaving expert, against credit cards notes for Nationwide
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| If card opened before 22 February 2011, 0% load in Europe, 1% Worldwide. After this date, you can earn some load-free spending, but standard is 2%. |
So unless Nationwide really suits you for other reasons, I cannot see that it is a good card to use.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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achilles, if you have a FlexAccount, and use it, they send you a different credit card, the Select card. I pay in something every month, and use it for one direct payment out again. Unlimited commission free purchase abroad.
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/creditcard/default.htm
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Poster: A snowHead
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Moneysabving Expert is way out of date on that one (date of update August 2011 according to your link), We received our new cards in late 2011.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hells Bells, comes back to whether Nationwide suits you in other respects.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
achilles, if you have a FlexAccount, and use it, they send you a different credit card, the Select card. I pay in something every month, and use it for one direct payment out again. Unlimited commission free purchase abroad.
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/creditcard/default.htm |
Yeah, that's what I've got. I find Nationwide online banking perfectly efficient and user-friendly.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Bones, their exchange rate is always very good.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I actually use FlexAccount as my main current account. It's fine for personal use.
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| Pedantica wrote: |
| Hells Bells wrote: |
achilles, if you have a FlexAccount, and use it, they send you a different credit card, the Select card. I pay in something every month, and use it for one direct payment out again. Unlimited commission free purchase abroad.
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/creditcard/default.htm |
Yeah, that's what I've got. I find Nationwide online banking perfectly efficient and user-friendly. |
Super. I very much doubt that it could have done for you what I needed from my bank recently. What suits one person may not be so good for someone else.
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achilles,
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What suits one person may not be so good for someone else.
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Indeed, I was not trying to persuade anyone to move to Nationwide. Entirely a matter of personal taste.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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achilles, obviously it is horses for courses. All normal banking facilities are covered, and they started offering international online transfers long before my main bank.
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FAQ
So no loading and no fees either.
